Metaphors in Use

The First Symposium on Language and Literature titled “Metaphors in Use” was held on May 11, 2017 in the KUST Auditorium at Komar University of Science and Technology. The symposium was organized by the Department of English at Komar University in collaboration with Komar Research Center (KRC). The speakers are prominent professors of English and educations who come from Komar University, Sulaimaniya University and Cihan University: Dr. Ala Talabani, Mr. Jutyar Salih, Mr. Arsto Ahmed, Mr. Jalal M. Al-Razaz, Dr. Azad H. Fatah and Mr. Zana Hassan. Details about the speakers and their presentations are provided below.

The symposium revolves around the use of metaphors in English. It begins by outlining the basic elements of a metaphor and explains the types and requirements of metaphor. It then explains and illustrates the various uses and functions of metaphors in different everyday situations and educational contexts.

President of Komar University Dr. Salah Aziz and Vice President Dr. Jalal Saeed honored the event with their presence. Director of Komar Research Center (KRC) Dr. Zmnako Awrahman, CIEP Academic Director Dr. Zanyar Faiq, a number of CIEP instructors including Ms. Zareena Younis and Ms. Arezou Karimi, KUST faculty members and staff as well as teachers from other universities also attended the symposium. A number of KUST and CIEP students also showed up for the event. The speakers were awarded certificates of appreciation by KRC at KUST. The event was photographed by Mr. Balen and Miss. Aziz Aras.

Symposium Photos

Symposium and Speaker Details

Symposium Title

The department of english
first symposium on language and literature: Metaphors in use

Organizing Department / Center / Unit

Department of English in Collaboration with Komar Research Center
(KRC)

Symposium Duration:

2 hours

Symposium Date and Time

Thursday May 11, 2017

1:00 p.m.

Place

KUST Auditorium

Symposium Description

This symposium revolves around the use of metaphors in English. It begins by outlining the basic elements
of a metaphor and explains the types of metaphor used in English. It then shows the uses and functions of
metaphors in various everyday situations and academic contexts.

LOs

Identify metaphors and their basic
elements in the English language

Recognize metaphors in English language
and literature

Generate effective metaphors in English

USE metaphors effectively in academic
contexts and within a classroom environment for better communication and
elucidation

Targeted Audience

KUST and non-KUST community, particularly faculty members, educators,
teachers, and students, who wish to learn (more) about metaphors and their
uses, and who like to boost their communication skills in English.

Number of Speakers / Presenters

6

Number of Lectures / Presentations

5

Speaker and Lecture / Presentation Details

First Speaker

Name

Dr. Ala Talabani

Current Position and Work Address

Vice President for Student Affairs and teacher of English at Komar
University of Science and Technology

Brief Bio

Ala Talabani is the Vice President for Student Affairs and a faculty
member at the Department of English, Komar University of Science and
Technology. She has earned a B.A., an
M.A. and a Ph.D. in English and American literature.

Contact Info

Email:

talabani.ala@komar.edu.iq

Title of Lecture / Presentation

“What Constitutes a Metaphor?”

Abstract

This presentation introduces the audience to one of the most
important figures of speech in English language and literature: the
metaphor. It explains the essential
elements and requirements of a metaphor and outlines the various types of
metaphor with illustrations.

Lecture / Presentation Duration

20 minutes

Second and Third Speakers

Name of Second Speaker

Mr. Jutyar Salih

Current Position and Work Address

Teacher at Sulaimani University and visiting lecturer at UHD

Brief Bio

Jutyar Salih (also Jutyar Zhazhlaiy( is a university teacher,
published translator, short story writer and animal activist. He has earned
his BA in English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and
his MA in English Literature from University of Essex/ UK. Since 2007, Mr
Salih has been publishing written and translated literary texts and short
stories in local newspapers, magazines, and websites. His debut translated
book, Sêşemman legel Morîy (Tuesdays with Morrie) came out in 2014 and became
#1 bestseller in Sulaimani months after its publication. He published a
second book- a translation of The Five People You Meet in Heaven- in 2016. Mr
Salih is now teaching translation and literature classes at the Department of
English/ University of Sulaimani, he is also a PhD candidate in English
literature.

Contact Info

jutyar.salih@univsul.edu.iq

Name of Third Speaker

Mr. Arsto Ahmed

Current Position and Work Address

Teacher at Sulaimani
University and visiting lecturer at Cihan University,

Brief Bio

Ahmed is a university instructor and lecturer. He has his BA in
English Language and Literature from University of Sulaimani and his MA in
English Literature from Exeter University. He is currently a member of staff
at the Department of English at University of Sulaimani and a lecturer at
Cihan University.

Contact Info

arsto.ahmed@hotmail.com

Title
of Lecture / Presentation

Laughter Metaphors

Abstract

Metaphors are not magic words that appear only in poems and novels.
They can rather be created by all of us, perhaps unknowingly, in various
everyday situations. Sometimes, especially in literature, metaphors carry
symbolic and/or aesthetic values, but some other times they only provoke
delighted laughter. This presentation focuses on some funny and
creatively-constructed metaphors that, when spoken, delight people and bring
much laughter to participants of conversations.

Lecture / Presentation Duration

20 minutes

Fourth Speaker

Name

Mr. Jalal M. Al-Razaz

Current Position and Work Address

Lecturer at the Department of English, Cihan University, and Online
Moderator at Arizona State University / Coursera TESOL Program

Brief Bio

Jalal M. Al-Razaz has been mainly involved in teaching English and
American literature courses at undergraduate and graduate levels for most of his
career as a university professor; also, Communication and Critical Thinking,
College Writing, Translation, as well as EFL/ESL and preparatory courses for
IELTS and TOEFL. Further, he is co-author of a book: “Eighteenth Century
English Poetry” and several books in translation for the Center for Arab Gulf
Studies (Basrah University). He is a career translator and, in his expat
years, he has been professionally involved with interpretation for several
establishments in the U.A.E., mainly the US TealTeam (World Bank Conference)
and (Dubai International Film Festival). He was also, for two years, Arabic
editor of three bilingual magazines published by The Media Factory, FZ LLC,
Dubai Media City. His recent interests extend to web skills and educational
technology. Hobbies, among other
things: creative writing, photography, and tennis.

Contact Info

Email:

alrazaz@gmail.com

Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jalal-m-al-razaz-04ba073a

Personal
Blog:

http://mywebsource.blogspot.com

Title
of Lecture / Presentation

“Metaphors in Life and Literature”

Abstract

Metaphors are not only common but also an integral part of human
culture, life, and literature. They have attracted the attention of people from
different specializations, including professionals in the fields of
philosophy, language and linguistics, rhetoric, as well as psychology- among
other disciplines. These professionals look at the subject from expert points
of view and come up with intricate definitions, the interpretation of which
sometimes requires close scrutiny. The general speakers and readers-
including students in our case, however, are usually fascinated but also
sometimes intrigued by the subject. The presentation introduces metaphor
through a survey of the intricate definitions- that may challenge the
readers, to conclude with a view that makes the subject within the reach of
the individual who wishes to enjoy rather than be baffled by the subject.

Lecture / Presentation Duration

20 minutes

Fifth Speaker

Name

Dr. Azad H. Fatah

Current Position and Work

Chairman of the English Department in Sulaimani University and
Lecturer at the English Department at Komar University of Science and
Technology

Brief Bio

Dr. Azad H. Fatah is currently the lecturer at Komar University of
Science and Technology and the chairman of the English Department in
Sulaimani University. He obtained his MA in English Syntax and his PhD in
Cognitive Linguistics. He translated the book from English into Kurdish
entitled Handbook for Journalists (2003). He published three articles
about both English and Kurdish morphology and semantics. He was the member of
more than 8 MA examining committees in English Language and linguistics and
supervised two MA students. Now, he is giving BA and MA courses in different universities.

Contact Info

azad.hasan@komar.edu.iq

Title of Lecture / Presentation

Conceptual Metaphor: a Cognitive Account

Abstract

Metaphor is a device employed to explain the nature of complex issues
or hard-to- understand ideas. Unlike the classical view which sees metaphor
as a literary feature of language or a figurative use of language, Cognitive
Semantics views it as a process which helps to conceptualize a particular
concept in different ways. He tries to focus on the conceptual structures,
patterns of metaphor, and types of metaphor from that cognitive perspectives.

Lecture / Presentation Duration

20 minutes

Sixth Speaker

Name

Mr. Zana Hassan

Current Position and Work Address

Instructor at Sulaimani University and visiting lecturer at Komar
University of Science and Technology

Brief Bio

Zana Mahmood Hassan was born in 1987 in Sulaimani, Iraq. He obtained
his Bachelor’s degree in the English Language at the University of Sulaimani,
Iraq in 2008. He then studied his Masters in TESOL at the University of
Huddersfield in the UK in 2012 . He
has published some academic papers related to EFL teaching and material
evaluation. He is now a PhD student in
Applied Linguistics. He is currently
teaching EFL at University of Sulaimani and a visiting Lecturer at KUST.

Contact Info

Email:

zana.hassan@komar.edu.iq

Title
of Lecture / Presentation

“Teachers' Use of Metaphors in Class”

Abstract

This presentation focuses on the metaphorical expressions that are
commonly used inside the class by teachers to explain topics. It is important that learners have some idea
about those expressions in order to understand the teacher's point of view
when s/he uses those expressions.